Now that the weather is cooling down, it’s time to turn off the air conditioner and prepare for the chilly winter weather. It’s time to bring out the blankets, dust off your winter coats, and fire up the heater and settle in for a cozy winter indoors.
But even if your heater worked perfectly last year, it may have a few issues this year. To learn more about common problems heaters have during the winter, take a look our information below.
For heating services throughout Maryland, trust GAC Services – call our team at {{dc:acf:option_field field=”contact_info_phone_text”}} or contact us online today!
Heat Cycling
When your heater is turning on and off far more often than usual – this is called heat cycling. Heat cycling lowers system efficiency and raises your utility bills, so even if you think you’re getting enough heat, you’ll want to get your heater fixed as soon as you can to avoid further issues and higher bills.
Heat cycling can indicate an excessively dirty blower or filter, or it could be the result of a malfunctioning thermostat. Change your filter, or take a look at your thermostat. If you notice your thermostat is broken or a fresh filter doesn’t solve the problem, call a professional from GAC Services to take a look. They can easily pinpoint the problem and clean various areas of the heater.
Carbon Monoxide Leaks
Whether your heater is brand new or old, you need to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Carbon monoxide can easily go undetected – it’s tasteless, colorless, and odorless, and it can be deadly in the right amounts.
Carbon monoxide leaks are most common in furnaces that are 10 to 15 years old, so if your furnace is at least a decade old, have it inspected, just in case. If your carbon monoxide detector catches a trace of carbon monoxide, call a professional immediately. They’ll know how to effectively find leaks and provide proper repairs.
Dry Air
Dry air can be troublesome and uncomfortable, especially if your skin is sensitive or already dry. When your home has an unusually low humidity, your skin might feel dry and itchy. The lower humidity levels can affect the efficiency of your heating system.
Dry air holds less heat, so it may take more for your home to be comfortable and cozy. To remedy this issue, use a humidifier. You can use an individual humidifier in a main room, or you can install a humidifier in your HVAC system for more even moisture levels throughout the home. This will not only protect your wood furniture and features, but it will also make your home warmer and cozier throughout the cold, winter weather.
Inconsistent Heating
You want your whole house to be properly heated, so walking from a warm room to a chilly one can be irritating. Look around doors and windows for holes or cracks to ensure your weatherstripping is intact – there could be an issue with your insulation.
If everything looks properly sealed and insulated, the heating system’s coils or filter might be dirty. The uneven heating can also be a result of dirty air ducts or clogged vents. Check the filter, and get your system cleaned to see if that solves the problem.
Sometimes, entire floors can be warmer than others. When your upper stories are warm while the lower floors are cold, consider closing the upstairs vents to direct warm air to the bottom levels. Because heat rises, the cozy heat downstairs will eventually drift upstairs.
Lack of Heat
When your heating system isn’t warming your home at all, it could be due to a number of problems. Before you check anything else, look at your thermostat to make sure it’s working and has new batteries. A lack of heat could easily be caused by a faulty thermostat.
If you have a heat pump, it could be struggling with the winter weather. Icy wind and snow can put heavy frost on your heat pump, which can prevent the heat pump from functioning properly. Check that your heat pump has defrost settings to keep the ice and frost from hindering the heating system.
For a furnace, you may have a problem with your pilot light. If your pilot light isn’t on, check to see if it has a steady power source. If not, the assembly may be blocked and dirty, in which case you should call a professional to carefully clean it out for you.
No matter the heating issue, our HVAC specialists at GAC Services can detect the problem and offer the best solution. We may suggest you replace your furnace, or we may recommend a few simple repairs.
Choose GAC Services for HVAC services during the winter season – call us at {{dc:acf:option_field field=”contact_info_phone_text”}} or contact us online today.
